3 Surprising Things You Need To Know About CBD Skincare

It’s high time we re-evaluated this whole ‘beauty is pain’ myth, don’t you think? How about this instead: beauty is relief. Yeah? Into it? So are we. But before we get into why this is the best thing to happen to your skincare routine since coconut oil, let’s debunk a few other myths. First, CBD is a component of the cannabis plant, but it is not the same thing as THC (aka tetrahydrocannabinol, known for its psychoactive properties) — so you won’t get high. Second, it bares repeating: CBD is non-psychoactive. You will not get high from it. Third, it’s 100-percent legal across state lines and can be shipped to-and-from all 50 states. Surprised? We told you, it’s not marijuana! More on that in a minute.

Now that we’ve cleared the air a bit, we can get into why CBD skincare benefits (read: anti-inflammatory, pro-clear skin) are backed by research, and are worth the hype. To understand why CBD is just now making a name for itself in the beauty industry even though hemp has been around since the literal dawn of civilization, we’ll clue you in with a (very) brief history.

Hemp History, Abridged

Hemp’s usefulness has a track record as old as humanity itself (basically) for food, fiber and even fuel. The world’s first paper was made from hemp. Ancient cultures cultivated it to make everything from ship ropes to medicinal remedies. Hemp seed oil kept household lamps burning through the American Revolution. Heck! The original Levi’s were crafted from hemp. Sounds like a pretty promising gift from Mother Nature. So what happened? For a time, when cotton and timber reigned supreme over North American industry, hemp fell out of favor (and crop rotations). Propaganda from industry bigshots and backing from politicians swayed public opinion in part by associating hemp with an already-stigmatized and soon-to-be criminalized drug: marijuana, another component of cannabis.

Hemp vs. Marijuana

Here’s the important distinction to remember: marijuana and hemp aren’t the same thing, even though they come from the same plant. Marijuana contains both CBD and THC, but has been selectively bred for higher levels of THC whereas hemp, a less processed form of the plant, contains CBD with little-to-no THC. In short, marijuana gets you high, hemp doesn’t. Despite that very important difference, the slandered reputation of marijuana took hemp down with it. But the times, they have a changed.

More people are re-thinking marijuana and more states are leaning into the idea that cannabis can provide effective, non-addictive alternatives to, say, the painkiller crisis. This means hemp’s reputation is making a comeback -- as evident by just about every grocery store touting hemp seed oil as a great source of protein and omegas. Beyond the natural food aisle, CBD is all the buzz in the beauty industry, too, and brands like Cannuka are leading the skincare-as-self-care shift with it at the heart of every formula. Unlike most CBD-infused products on the market, Cannuka’s use therapeutic levels of hemp-derived CBD from a crystallized CBD isolate, making it super pure even before formulation begins. And THAT means some pretty great things are in store for skin. Here are three solid reasons to consider including CBD as part of your skin care routine:

1. CBD is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory

As a root cause of skincare issues ranging from chapped lips and breakouts to eczema and psoriasis, inflammation is a pretty-near universal struggle. Minimizing it is half the battle when it comes to enabling skin to heal. CBD is a natural and potent anti-inflammatory that has been shown to calm skin, reduce redness and abate swelling — and it’s even A-OK for sensitive skin. This means that it can help address issues like under eye dark circles, eczema and rosacea.

2. It Can Help Clear Acne

When it comes to major breakouts CBD can also help skin stay ahead by lowering the production of sebum that leads to acne. Overworked sebaceous glands coupled with inflammation are key contributors to acne. Research demonstrates that CBD can be a promising treatment for acne thanks to its effective anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its ability to inhibit excess sebum production.

3. It Has Antioxidant Benefits

Free radicals sound like a sci-fi society in revolt, but are really the highly active chemicals partially responsible for the cellular changes and protein breakdown that we recognize as aging — like fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. Our skin is up against free radicals every day whether from sun exposure or pollution. Antioxidants are the counter-revolution that take on free radicals by neutralizing them and minimize the visible damage they cause. And guess what’s a potent natural antioxidant? CBD. We’ll take that in all our skincare products, yes please.

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Katie Joy Blanksma is a Los Angeles-based writer who will try (almost) any beauty product at least once, digs brands making the world a better place and spends her non-writing time exploring California’s natural beauty. She writes for publications and brands like Cannuka, The Honest Company, Beautycounter and Nordstrom.